According to the EPA, the public hearing will provide interested parties with the opportunity to present data, views or arguments concerning the proposal. While the EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, the agency will not respond to the presentations at that time. The EPA also indicated written statements and supporting information submitted during the comment period will be considered with the same weight as any oral comments and supporting information presented at the public hearing.

The public comment period will officially open once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. As of June 5, that had not occurred. However, a pre-publication version of the proposal is available on the EPA’s website.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude when all parties present who wish to speak have had an opportunity to do so. Those who wish to testify are directed to contact the EPA by June 12. A notice published in the Federal Register includes specific instructions for those who would like to testify.